Imperfect 10: 49ers set franchise record for consecutive losses

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Dion Sims #80 of the Miami Dolphins runs after a catch during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Antoine Bethea #41 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Jarvis Landry #14 of the Miami Dolphins during the 4th quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

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Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes during the 4th quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

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MarQueis Gray #48 of the Miami Dolphins is tackled by Nick Bellore #50 of the San Francisco 49ers during a game on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Jakeem Grant #19 of the Miami Dolphins returns a kick during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown during a game against the Miami Dolphins on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes during a game against the Miami Dolphins on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a game against the Miami Dolphins on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers calls a play during a game against the Miami Dolphins on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Miami Dolphins stops Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers on the final play of a game on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers shakes hands with Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins during a game on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

On the game’s dramatic final play, Colin Kaepernick scrambled four yards before getting tackled by Ndamukong Suh and Kiko Alonso at the Dolphins’ 2-yard line as time expired.

“You have to get in the end zone. Ultimately that’s what it comes down to,” Kaepernick said. “We had a pass play called, stepped up, thought we had a seam to get in there, and didn’t make it in.”

Kaepernick, in falling to 0-6 as a starter this year, set season highs by running for 113 yards (10 carries) and throwing three touchdown passes (29 of 46, 296 yards, one interception).

The Dolphins (7-4) secured their sixth straight win by stopping Kaepernick’s mad dash, with Suh catching him from behind while Alonso cut off Kaepernick’s path to the goal line. Kaepernick faked a pass to Vance McDonald to juke three defenders and open a lane, albeit temporarily.

“He gave it everything he had and wanted to get in the end zone,” McDonald said. “It’s a great game and awesome to be part of it. You just want to be on the other side of it.”

The only other time the 49ers had lost nine in a row was 1978. After this record-setting loss, the 49ers flew to Orlando for practice this week before lugging their 0-5 road record to Chicago for next Sunday’s game.

For the seventh time in those 10 defeats, coach Chip Kelly’s 49ers held a first-half lead, and they scored first Sunday on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick to Carlos Hyde.

“They want to straighten this thing out, so they’re going to go out and compete,” Kelly said. “I don’t want anybody to pat them on the back and tell them that, ‘Hey you did a good job. You were close.’

“They’re grown men, they want to win and they’ll continue to work that way.”

For the eighth time in their skid, the 49ers defense allowed over 30 points, with Ryan Tannehill responsible for most of Sunday’s damage. He three touchdown passes, including a 43-yard strike to Kenny Stills and a 15-yarder to Leonte Carroo after the 49ers had pulled within 17-14.

Once the 49ers answered with a Torrey Smith touchdown catch and Phil Dawson field goal, their defense came through with a stop to give Kaepernick one last crack at a tying touchdown. Nick Bellore and Jimmie Ward combined to tackle Jay Ajayi a yard short of a first down and force a punt with 1:50 remaining.

Smith kept the comeback bid alive by making a 17-yard reception on fourth-and-11, then wisely ran out of bounds at the Dolphins 46 to stop the clock.

“I knew it was a chance it could be my ball on that play, and I expected to make it,” said Smith, who blamed himself for the loss because of a pass that bounced off his hands and into Alonso’s for an interception to start the second half.

Kaepernick scrambled 20 yards to the Dolphins 24-yard line with 12 seconds remaining. Then it took a replay review to overturn an on-field call and award Jeremy Kerley an 18-yard catch at the Dolphins 6 with five seconds to go.

A potential touchdown pass to Smith got broken up by Byron Maxwell in the end zone with two seconds left. Smith was among five receivers who went out for a pass on the last, fateful play that saw Kaepernick run.

“It looked for a second he could get it, but that stuff closes fast down there,” Smith said. “I was hoping he’d just fling it up; that’s probably our best chance, unless he did some amazing Kap stuff.”

Team owner Denise DeBartolo York was in attendance to witness the franchise’s longest losing streak ever.

Smith blamed the 49ers’ woes on their inability to consistently play well for 60 minutes.

“That’s why we’ve lost so many games,” Smith said. “We’ve been in every game, for the most part. We haven’t been able to finish.”